White-plumed Honeyeater
Ptilotula penicillata
Similar in appearance to the Yellow-plumed, Yellow-tinted, Fuscous and Grey-fronted Honeyeaters, the distinguishing feature of the White-plumed honeyeater is the distil white bands at its neck called neck-plumes. This is where its name is derived from with the species epithet penicillata deriving from the Modern Latin penicillatus meaning tufted or with brush-like tufts originating from the Latin word penicillus meaning a painter's brush. It is a medium-sized honeyeater with a yellowish head, pale grey-brown plumage below and yellowish-olive feathers on its back. Voice: Consist of a variety of songs depending on locality as well as chip calls, described as a sharp, shrill descending chip noise, whistles, twittering (when congregated) and alarm calls which again vary depending on region. Tend to be the most vocal in July through to August in the South, and most vocal in the afternoons.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater
Ptilotula ornata
The yellow-plumed honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater with a relatively long, down-curved black bill, a dark face and a distinctive, upswept yellow neck plume. It has an olive-green head, with a faint yellow line under the dark eye, grey-green upperparts, and heavily streaked grey-brown underparts. Young birds have a yellow bill base and eye-ring. Similar species include purple-gaped honeyeater, grey-fronted honeyeater and fuscous honeyeater. Voice: The song is a loud, clear, three-note chier wit chier, often performed before dawn, and by males during display flight.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: White-plumed Honeyeater and Yellow-plumed Honeyeater.